PROBLEM The American Austrian school (The Rothbardian MIsesians) are motivated p

http://www.professorfekete.com/articles/AEFATaleOfTwoSchools.pdfONE PROBLEM

The American Austrian school (The Rothbardian MIsesians) are motivated primarily by political rather than economic interests. Their leadership, in particular, that of Rockwell and the MI, adopted the Marxist ideological strategy of the community organizers on one hand, and public intellectuals on the other.

And that strategy has proven eminently successful – nearly taking over the term ‘libertarian’ as ‘liberal’ was taken over by the left. So the American Austrians should be appreciated in the context of their ambitions and achievements. Intolerance is necessary for including people in an ideological identity. Politics is emotional by its nature, and ideology is more effective at inciting political action than is reasoned argument. So with their strategy, the Rothbardian Misesians of the American Austrian school have altered the political landscape – for the benefit of all libertarians.

They have been so successful at introducing anarchic thinking that the rest of the libertarian movement has adopted their methods. And as of last year, have begun openly fighting for their identity against the Rothbardians.

It is probably a better strategy to criticize the intellectual problems in their message while complimenting the ideological success. By doing so we do not violate their principle of purity, which we see as intolerance.

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